Method of sealing glass bulbs.



A. J. LOEPSINGER.

METHOD or sEALlNG GLAss BULBS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1|. 1916.

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`ALBERTI' J. LOEPSING-ER, OF PROVIDNCE, RHODE ISLAND, SSIGNOR '1.0 GENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

METHOD OE SEALING GLASS BULBS.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

original application ined .my a, 1912, serial no. 707,472. :oived and this application inea March 11,

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26. 1916.v In that application there is setiforthsJ method of preparing glass bulbs or similar fran le vessels for use in automatic sprinklers-of that type whichembodies in its construction a Afrangble vessel having expansiblev contents, and ,whichl is caused to be opened by the eX ansive or explosive force of the contents o such, frangible vessel induced by the action of heat.

l l The method described in said application involves filling the bulb with a las solution at normal temperature, then placing the bulb in a closed receptacle, then introducing pressure into said receptacle and there heating 'having an opening in its upper wall through which the bulb may be'placed in position within the receptacle. The opening referred to its tightly closed by a cover 5, which-is held securely in place by a screw 6 working in a bracket? rigidlyA secured to the body of the receptacle'. The suitably shaped holding devices 8-8 are provided within the receptacle to receive and hold'the bulb' during the process of sealing'. Communicating with the interior of the receptacle is a pipe v the bulbandits contents up 'to a desired hi h temperature, thereby permanently eX- pe ling a quantity of the liquid from the ulb, then cooling the bulb and its contents, and then sealing said bulb.` y

The present invention relates to the sealing of bulbs which thus containl a gas ink solution, and the invention consists in a novel method of sealing such bulbs, which method is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in connection therewith.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a bulb containing a gas solution and ready for sealing, and Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of an apparatus which may be employed in vcarrying out the method of sealing the bulbs.'

The frangible vessel comprises a bulb 1 of glass or similar material provided with an elongated hollow neck 2. It is under-- stood Vthat this bulb is lled with a gas s vair to the receptacle.

9 'leading from a pump 0r compressed air reservolr (notshown), whereby the interior 4of the receptacle may be illedwith air under pressure.l The pipe 9 is provided with a valve 10 for controlling the admission of v 11 is' a'relief valve which is to' be sety or adjustedat the pres-v sure desired to be maintained withinthe receptacle and to prevent any greater pressure therein.

12 is a burner secured to-the end of the pipe 13. The pipe 13'extends through the end Wall ofA the receptacle and through a stuffing-box 111, and so that said pipe andthe burner 1? carried thereby may be moved toward and from the bulb to be sealed when -thesame'is in position within the receptacle.

The outer end 'of the pipe 13 is connected by a link 15 to one end of a lever 16 pivoted at 17 to the bracket 18 secured' to the wall of the receptacle. Preferably the bracket is provided with projecting llugs 19 and 20 adapted to be engaged by the bosses 21-22 respectively formed .on the lever 16 to level the inward and outward movement of the burner 12.

@Communicating with the-pipe 13 outside ot the receptacle is a pipe -23 leading to a supply of compressed air, and communicating with said pipe 23 is a pipe 24 leading to a gas supply, whereby a mixture of gas and air is supplied to the pipe 13. The valve Q5 in the pipe 23 controls the admission of the mixture of gas and air to the pipe 13 and the burner 12. The Ipipes 23 and 24 are to of the pipe be connected with iexible pipes (not shown) in order to permit the to and fro movements 13 and the burner 12.

The operation ofthe apparatus above de scribed will be readily understood. Assuming the burner 12 to be lighted and to b e in its outer or Withdrawn position, the cover of the receptacle is removed and the bulb to be Sealed is placed in the holding devices 8, the arrangement of said devices being such that the4 end of the neck of the bulb Will be held substantially in line with the burner 12. The cover 5 is then secured in place and the valve 10 is opened to admit compressed air into the receptacle, preferably up to the pressure determined by the relief valve 11. The lever 16 is then moved to bring the boss 21 thereon into engagement with the lug 19,

thereby moving the burner 12 toward the neck of the bulb and into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby bringing the frame into position to impinge upon the end of the neck of the bulb, which, by the action of the heat, will be fused and closed and the bulb thereby hermetically sealed. The air-pressure Within the receptacle Will prevent any material escape of gas during the process of sealing.

Preferably an opening 26 is provided in one of the side Walls of the receptacle in line with the bulb, with a pane of glass 27 in saidl opening through which the operator ma serile when the bulb has been properly note the progress of the fusing and ob:

sealed. The lever 16 isthen moved to Withdraw the burner, the amount of such movement being determined by the engagement of 'the boss 22 with the lug 20. The cover is Serial No. 707 ,473, renewal Number 159,327,

Apr. 2, 1917. f

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. rlhe method of sealing glass bulbs containing a gas in solution Which consistsin placing the bulb in a closed receptacle and there sealing the bulb under pressure.

2. The method of sealing a glass bulb provided with an elongated neck and containing a gas in solution which consists in placing the bulb in a closed receptacle and there fusing the end of the neck under pres- Sure.

ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER. Witnesses:

W. H. `THURs'roN, J. H. THU-Rs'roN. 

